Camille Testard
@ctestard.bsky.social
Neuroethology and Ecology of social behavior in mammals. Special interest in how animals cope with extreme environmental challenges. PhD in Platt lab @Penn, now Junior Fellow @Harvard and Branco Weiss Fellow with Dulac lab
Reposted by Camille Testard
A thought-provoking piece in Nature Neuroscience by many neuroscience colleagues: "Science must break its silence to rebuild public trust". Lots to think about here.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 14, 2025 at 8:51 PM
A thought-provoking piece in Nature Neuroscience by many neuroscience colleagues: "Science must break its silence to rebuild public trust". Lots to think about here.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Camille Testard
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
October 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
🧠🌟🐭 Excited to share some of my postdoc work on the evolution of dexterity!
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
We compared deer mice evolved in forest vs prairie habitats. We found that forest mice have:
(1) more corticospinal neurons (CSNs)
(2) better hand dexterity
(3) more dexterous climbing, which is linked to CSN number🧵
Reposted by Camille Testard
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Camille Testard
The secret to shrew brain shrinkage? 🤔
Not cell loss, but water loss!
Our new paper shows that brain cells shrink by losing water, a wild feat of brain plasticity 🤯
Check the paper!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @labdavalos.bsky.social @batichica.bsky.social
Not cell loss, but water loss!
Our new paper shows that brain cells shrink by losing water, a wild feat of brain plasticity 🤯
Check the paper!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @labdavalos.bsky.social @batichica.bsky.social
Programmed seasonal brain shrinkage in the common shrew via water loss without cell death
Brain plasticity, the brain’s inherent ability to adapt its structure and function, is crucial for responding to environmental challenges but is usual…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The secret to shrew brain shrinkage? 🤔
Not cell loss, but water loss!
Our new paper shows that brain cells shrink by losing water, a wild feat of brain plasticity 🤯
Check the paper!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @labdavalos.bsky.social @batichica.bsky.social
Not cell loss, but water loss!
Our new paper shows that brain cells shrink by losing water, a wild feat of brain plasticity 🤯
Check the paper!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social @labdavalos.bsky.social @batichica.bsky.social
Reposted by Camille Testard
Nine former CDC directors, from Bill Foege onward, speak out about the incalculable harm that RFK, Jr. is doing to public health in the US and around the world.
Gift link.
Gift link.
Opinion | We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Nine former CDC directors, from Bill Foege onward, speak out about the incalculable harm that RFK, Jr. is doing to public health in the US and around the world.
Gift link.
Gift link.
Reposted by Camille Testard
Cutting $20 billion to NIH over 25 years may save $500 billion on paper, but it’d end up costing $8.2 trillion in lost human health.
But NIH isn't the only thing being cut. The budget also slashes all NSF-funded science by 73 percent. NASA faces “the biggest single-year cut to NASA in history."
But NIH isn't the only thing being cut. The budget also slashes all NSF-funded science by 73 percent. NASA faces “the biggest single-year cut to NASA in history."
Donald Trump’s proposed budget would gut American science
It would slash cancer research, drug trials, space exploration, and so much more.
www.motherjones.com
May 31, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Cutting $20 billion to NIH over 25 years may save $500 billion on paper, but it’d end up costing $8.2 trillion in lost human health.
But NIH isn't the only thing being cut. The budget also slashes all NSF-funded science by 73 percent. NASA faces “the biggest single-year cut to NASA in history."
But NIH isn't the only thing being cut. The budget also slashes all NSF-funded science by 73 percent. NASA faces “the biggest single-year cut to NASA in history."
Reposted by Camille Testard
URGENT! Contact your senators today to advocate to fund science agencies and programs!
The Senate Appropriations Committee & its subcommittees are writing appropriation bills for the federal FY26 budget now.
Here's how you can help: esa.org/esablog/2025...
The Senate Appropriations Committee & its subcommittees are writing appropriation bills for the federal FY26 budget now.
Here's how you can help: esa.org/esablog/2025...
June 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
URGENT! Contact your senators today to advocate to fund science agencies and programs!
The Senate Appropriations Committee & its subcommittees are writing appropriation bills for the federal FY26 budget now.
Here's how you can help: esa.org/esablog/2025...
The Senate Appropriations Committee & its subcommittees are writing appropriation bills for the federal FY26 budget now.
Here's how you can help: esa.org/esablog/2025...
Reposted by Camille Testard
While pushing through absolutely devastating cuts to research, science, and scientists, RFK Jr. blatantly lies to Congress saying there have been no cuts to research, science, and scientists.
www.factcheck.org/2025/05/rfk-...
www.factcheck.org/2025/05/rfk-...
RFK Jr. Denies Cuts to Scientific Research While Slashing Staff, Funding - FactCheck.org
Under the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services has canceled or frozen billions of dollars in scientific research grants and attempted to cull around 20,000 agency employee...
www.factcheck.org
May 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
While pushing through absolutely devastating cuts to research, science, and scientists, RFK Jr. blatantly lies to Congress saying there have been no cuts to research, science, and scientists.
www.factcheck.org/2025/05/rfk-...
www.factcheck.org/2025/05/rfk-...
Reposted by Camille Testard
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
Reposted by Camille Testard
A baby boy with a devastating genetic disease is thriving after becoming the first known person to receive a bespoke, CRISPR therapy-for-one, designed to correct his specific disease-causing mutation
https://go.nature.com/45bprqu
https://go.nature.com/45bprqu
World’s first personalized CRISPR therapy given to baby with genetic disease
Treatment seems to have been effective, but it is not clear whether such bespoke therapies can be widely applied.
go.nature.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
A baby boy with a devastating genetic disease is thriving after becoming the first known person to receive a bespoke, CRISPR therapy-for-one, designed to correct his specific disease-causing mutation
https://go.nature.com/45bprqu
https://go.nature.com/45bprqu
Reposted by Camille Testard
As someone directly affected by this, let me be clear:
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
Researchers at Harvard and its affiliates appreciate that the university resisted the Trump Administration's demands, but worry about what happens next.
At Harvard, scientists worry over the consequences of resisting the Trump administration: $2.2B in grants frozen
Researchers at Harvard and its affiliates appreciate that the university resisted the Trump Administration's demands, but worry about what happens next.
buff.ly
April 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
As someone directly affected by this, let me be clear:
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
I'd rather lose my job because Harvard chose to fight than keep my job and see a generation of white supremacists parade its corpse around like a war trophy.
Reposted by Camille Testard
⚡️FIGHT THE OLIGARCHY RALLY ⚡️
STARTING TOMORROW.
Nevada. Arizona. Colorado.
You, me, and Bernie.
Dem and GOP districts. ❤️💙
See you there 💪🏽🌞
STARTING TOMORROW.
Nevada. Arizona. Colorado.
You, me, and Bernie.
Dem and GOP districts. ❤️💙
See you there 💪🏽🌞
March 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
⚡️FIGHT THE OLIGARCHY RALLY ⚡️
STARTING TOMORROW.
Nevada. Arizona. Colorado.
You, me, and Bernie.
Dem and GOP districts. ❤️💙
See you there 💪🏽🌞
STARTING TOMORROW.
Nevada. Arizona. Colorado.
You, me, and Bernie.
Dem and GOP districts. ❤️💙
See you there 💪🏽🌞
Reposted by Camille Testard
"This is a massive loss for neuroscience,” says Cory Miller.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/u-s-...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/u-s-...
U.S. BRAIN Initiative set to lose $81 million this year
A government spending bill, approved today by the House of Representatives, allocates 20 percent less funding for the program than last year.
www.thetransmitter.org
March 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
"This is a massive loss for neuroscience,” says Cory Miller.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/u-s-...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/u-s-...
Reposted by Camille Testard
A series of emails sent to national parks workers provided instructions on how to describe staff cuts to visitors.
They were told to avoid the word “fired” and not blame closures on staffing levels.
By @anjeanette-damon.bsky.social
They were told to avoid the word “fired” and not blame closures on staffing levels.
By @anjeanette-damon.bsky.social
Curious How Trump’s Cost Cutting Could Affect Your National Park Visit? You Might Not Get a Straight Answer.
National Park Service staff have received talking points ordering them to describe layoffs as “workforce management actions” and to reassure visitors that changes resulting from the cuts won’t impede…
propub.li
March 16, 2025 at 11:30 PM
A series of emails sent to national parks workers provided instructions on how to describe staff cuts to visitors.
They were told to avoid the word “fired” and not blame closures on staffing levels.
By @anjeanette-damon.bsky.social
They were told to avoid the word “fired” and not blame closures on staffing levels.
By @anjeanette-damon.bsky.social
Reposted by Camille Testard
Delighted that my first bluesky post is to share our latest paper in @currentbiology.bsky.social comparing the visual code and retinal neurons of day and night active rodents. A fun journey of discovery with a wonderful team! @dns-uom.bsky.social
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Altered proportions of retinal cell types and distinct visual codes in rodents occupying divergent ecological niches
Allen et al. apply a systems-level transcriptional and functional classification of
neurons in the visual system of related murids: nocturnal Mus musculus and day-active
Rhabdomys pumilio. They demons...
www.cell.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Delighted that my first bluesky post is to share our latest paper in @currentbiology.bsky.social comparing the visual code and retinal neurons of day and night active rodents. A fun journey of discovery with a wonderful team! @dns-uom.bsky.social
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Camille Testard
Reposted by Camille Testard
Trump: Gutting National Parks—And Hiding the Evidence
National parks hit 331M visits, but Trump officials don’t want you to know. A leaked memo bans the Park Service from promoting the numbers—while firing rangers, closing visitor centers, and cutting safety.
This won’t go well—we love our parks.
National parks hit 331M visits, but Trump officials don’t want you to know. A leaked memo bans the Park Service from promoting the numbers—while firing rangers, closing visitor centers, and cutting safety.
This won’t go well—we love our parks.
March 7, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Trump: Gutting National Parks—And Hiding the Evidence
National parks hit 331M visits, but Trump officials don’t want you to know. A leaked memo bans the Park Service from promoting the numbers—while firing rangers, closing visitor centers, and cutting safety.
This won’t go well—we love our parks.
National parks hit 331M visits, but Trump officials don’t want you to know. A leaked memo bans the Park Service from promoting the numbers—while firing rangers, closing visitor centers, and cutting safety.
This won’t go well—we love our parks.
Reposted by Camille Testard
We want to know—why are YOU standing up for science?
Whether it's a commitment to evidence-based policy, a drive to protect our planet, or the personal impact of recent events on your career, we want to feature your story.
Head to standupforscience2025.org/science-stor... to share yours ☀️
Whether it's a commitment to evidence-based policy, a drive to protect our planet, or the personal impact of recent events on your career, we want to feature your story.
Head to standupforscience2025.org/science-stor... to share yours ☀️
Why I Stand Up for Science
Science shapes our world, drives innovation, and protects our future—but it needs voices like yours to defend and champion it. We want to hear your story. Why do you stand up for science?Is it beca…
standupforscience2025.org
March 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
We want to know—why are YOU standing up for science?
Whether it's a commitment to evidence-based policy, a drive to protect our planet, or the personal impact of recent events on your career, we want to feature your story.
Head to standupforscience2025.org/science-stor... to share yours ☀️
Whether it's a commitment to evidence-based policy, a drive to protect our planet, or the personal impact of recent events on your career, we want to feature your story.
Head to standupforscience2025.org/science-stor... to share yours ☀️
Reposted by Camille Testard
I escaped poverty because I am a scientist.
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
February 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I escaped poverty because I am a scientist.
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation.
A 🧵:
Reposted by Camille Testard
So exciting to see MacaqueNet out into the world! 🤩
Learn about our global community & database centralizing standardized affiliative & agonistic data from 61 populations across 14 macaque species: doi/10.1111/1365...
Explore >600 networks & request data: macaquenet.github.io/database/
Learn about our global community & database centralizing standardized affiliative & agonistic data from 61 populations across 14 macaque species: doi/10.1111/1365...
Explore >600 networks & request data: macaquenet.github.io/database/
MacaqueNet: Advancing comparative behavioural research through large‐scale collaboration
We present MacaqueNet, a global community of macaque researchers who developed the first publicly searchable, standardised database on affiliative and agonistic behaviour. This cross-species database...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 12, 2025 at 10:09 AM
So exciting to see MacaqueNet out into the world! 🤩
Learn about our global community & database centralizing standardized affiliative & agonistic data from 61 populations across 14 macaque species: doi/10.1111/1365...
Explore >600 networks & request data: macaquenet.github.io/database/
Learn about our global community & database centralizing standardized affiliative & agonistic data from 61 populations across 14 macaque species: doi/10.1111/1365...
Explore >600 networks & request data: macaquenet.github.io/database/
Reposted by Camille Testard
Second paper out this week 😱😱
We present YOLO-Behaviour, a flexible, easy to implement, robust framework for automated behavioural annotation from videos, published in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social!!
[paper] doi.org/10.1111/2041...
[documentation] alexhang212.github.io/YOLO_Behavio...
We present YOLO-Behaviour, a flexible, easy to implement, robust framework for automated behavioural annotation from videos, published in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social!!
[paper] doi.org/10.1111/2041...
[documentation] alexhang212.github.io/YOLO_Behavio...
February 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Second paper out this week 😱😱
We present YOLO-Behaviour, a flexible, easy to implement, robust framework for automated behavioural annotation from videos, published in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social!!
[paper] doi.org/10.1111/2041...
[documentation] alexhang212.github.io/YOLO_Behavio...
We present YOLO-Behaviour, a flexible, easy to implement, robust framework for automated behavioural annotation from videos, published in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social!!
[paper] doi.org/10.1111/2041...
[documentation] alexhang212.github.io/YOLO_Behavio...
Reposted by Camille Testard
Check our latest in which we leverage shape metrics to compare neural geometry across regions, sessions or subjects and how their differences predict behavior.
w/ Nejatbakhsh, Duong, @sarah-harvey.bsky.social, Brincat, @siegellab.bsky.social, @earlkmiller.bsky.social & @itsneuronal.bsky.social
w/ Nejatbakhsh, Duong, @sarah-harvey.bsky.social, Brincat, @siegellab.bsky.social, @earlkmiller.bsky.social & @itsneuronal.bsky.social
Quantifying Differences in Neural Population Activity With Shape Metrics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.10.632411v1
January 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Check our latest in which we leverage shape metrics to compare neural geometry across regions, sessions or subjects and how their differences predict behavior.
w/ Nejatbakhsh, Duong, @sarah-harvey.bsky.social, Brincat, @siegellab.bsky.social, @earlkmiller.bsky.social & @itsneuronal.bsky.social
w/ Nejatbakhsh, Duong, @sarah-harvey.bsky.social, Brincat, @siegellab.bsky.social, @earlkmiller.bsky.social & @itsneuronal.bsky.social
Reposted by Camille Testard
What if… spontaneous neural activity 🧠 reflects the baseline rumblings of a brainwide dynamical system initialized for learning? We find that the rumblings have macroscopic properties like those emerging from linear symmetric, critical systems 🧵 #neuroscience #neuroAI www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
January 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
What if… spontaneous neural activity 🧠 reflects the baseline rumblings of a brainwide dynamical system initialized for learning? We find that the rumblings have macroscopic properties like those emerging from linear symmetric, critical systems 🧵 #neuroscience #neuroAI www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...